Portraits of 9 New York City Carriage Drivers and Their Horses

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Almost two years ago, then-mayoral-candidate Bill de Blasio promised to ban New York City’s horse-and-buggies on the first day of his term, garnering the support of deep-pocketed animal-rights activists. But that legislation, introduced in December, has stalled in City Council, where it’s received lackluster support. So for now — except for a brief hiatus to make way for Pope Francis’s tour last month — the carriage horses are still shuttling visitors around CentralPark.

Recently, Daily Intelligencer dropped by the Clinton Park Stables on West 52nd Street — which oozes Victorian charm despite its West Side Highway backdrop — to photograph some of the horse-carriage industry’s professionaltwosomes.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Angel Hernandez, 30Shaggy, 13 Years driving: 7 Years working with Shaggy:3

How did you start driving carriages?I started as a stable hand and really liked the horses, so I decided to try to get my license. It took me a year. You have to take a test and know about horses and city regulations, so it’s noteasy.

Tell me about your most memorable ride.People propose all the time. I have a red-and-white carriage, and that’s the best thing forproposals.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Jazz Joseph, 39 Blaze, 9 Years driving: 15 Years working with Blaze:9

What’s the best part of this job?I love being with animals. I actually spend more time with Blaze than I spend with my kids at home — I’m with him from 10 a.m. until like 5 p.m., and my kids definitely don’t get all that time. They’re probablyjealous.

What would you do if the carriage ban went through? I’d have to try to figure something out, but I have no ideas yet. I’ve been doing this for 15 years, so it’s not easy to switch and go and do another job. Let’s hope we don’t reach thatpoint.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Christina Hansen, 35 Tyson, 12 Years driving: 9 (3 in New York) Years working with Tyson:3

What don’t people understand about your job?I’d been driving a carriage for about a week in Philadelphia when some woman driving past me rolled down her window and screamed, “Animal abuse!” at the top of her lungs at me. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how anybody could look at a fat, shiny horse walking down the street happy as a clam and think that that was abuse. I grew up in Kentucky where horses are part of the culture, and I knew the horses in Philadelphia were cared for to the same standards as the horses at the Kentucky Horse Park. I’m an intellectual, I’m a historian, and I also have a science background, so the idea that people ignore the facts in favor of ideology really bugsme.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Sal, 54 Charlie, 11 Years driving: 33 Years working with Charlie:6

What’s the best part of this job?When I’m at the park I’m free to do what I want. I don’t have a boss behind me saying, “Do this” or, “Dothat.”

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Josh, 33 Jojo, 16 Years driving: 6 months Years working with Jojo: 6months

How did you start driving carriages?Craigslist.

Tell me about your most memorable ride. I’ve had two proposals on a carriage ride. One of them was at Christmastime at the Cherry Hill fountain. The other one was at the Bethesda fountain, and it was between two middle-aged men. And then yesterday someone took a ride right after proposing, but I didn’t get to seeit.

They must’ve seemed happy. They were from Holland, so I’m assuming that’s what joy looks like on theDutch.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Natasha Kapanova, 49 Blackie, 14 Years driving: 4 Years working with Blackie:3

How did you start driving carriages?I got involved with the horses because my daughter liked them. We went horseback-riding and helped at a small stable in Queens. Then I had the option to leave my office job, so I started doingthis.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Ahmet, 27 Dolly, 12 Years driving: 2 Years working with Dolly:2

What’s the best part of this job?Well, I don’t need to go to yoga — the park in the evening is very relaxing andpeaceful.

Do you and Dolly understand each other? Yes, definitely. She understands the red lights, too — she stops and goes by herself. Sometimes I’m actually texting inside the park, but she knows what todo.

Why the cowboy hat? I’ve always wanted to go to Texas, but I haven’t had a chance toyet.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Tommy Hughes, 54 Oscar, 15 Years driving: 32 Years working with Oscar: 10

What’s the best part of your job?The best part of my job is the horse. He knows who I am, I know who he is, and we have a greatbond.

What makes Oscar special? He goes crazy for bananamuffins.

Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev

Metin, 38 Murphy, 14 Years driving: 6 months Years working with Murphy: 3months

What’s the best part of this job? I came here from Turkey as a student years ago, and this is the best way to learn this crazy language. In Turkey we don’t have many opportunities to meet people from other countries, but here I always meet new people. It’s the perfect job forme.